Lou Amdur, owner of LOU in Hollywood, decants sweet wines, also known as dessert wines. All of these wines are non-fortified and 12% alcohol. The grapes for these intensely flavored wines are grown on infertile soil producing fruit packed with flavor.

Zeni Moscato DOC Rosa Trentino: Not available locally (except at Lou), but Silverlake Wines can order this wine from the importer.

Chateau de Suronde AOC Quarts de Chaume '04: available at Wine Country in Signal Hill. $125. Silverlake Wine can also order this wine from the importer. This is one of Lou's favorite wines of 2007. Intense and profound wine, it can age 100 years. Explosive flavor. Made in very small quantities from 100% Chenin Blanc grapes.

Sagrantino Passito DOCG Scacciadiavoli '03: available at the Wine House and K&L. $35. Traditional sacramental wine.

Laura Avery chats with DJ Olsen, the chef at Lou Wine Bar in Hollywood, who is shopping for fresh potatoes and leeks to make a simple potato leek soup.

1 lb potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 lb trimmed leeks, use whites only, sliced into half moons

squeeze of lemon

Salt and pepper to taste

High-quality olive oil for garnish

3 Tablespoons butter

Saute leeks in melted butter until softened.

Add potatoes and about 3 inches of water. Cover and simmer for about 1 hour, until potatoes and leek are soft.

Puree soup in a blender. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add squeeze of fresh lemon and drizzle olive to serve.

Laura also previews some winter citrus. She says to be sure to taste kumquats, the grape-sized orange citrus that you eat whole--skin and all. Blood oranges, which are also in season, have a slightly tarter flavor than a regular orange. Combine them with the in-season navel oranges and make a beautiful red-orange juice. There are also many varieties of tangerines and grapefruits available as well, like the sweet Oro Blanco and the Chinese delicacy, pomelos.

If you've never had homemade root beer before, you're in for a treat!
Eric Szeman is the co-owner of Route 66 Malt Shop in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He and his partner, Diane Avila, brew root beer using their own a secret recipe.

Danielle Noble talks about the issue of food and homelessness and how leaving food in public places violates the new City of Santa Monica ordinance.

4.55.075 Leaving property in City parks, parkways and sidewalks.

No person shall dispose of or donate any food, clothing or property by depositing or leaving it unattended in a City park or on an adjacent City sidewalk or parkway. (Added by Ord. No. 2230CCS § 1, adopted 5/22/07)

Deep End DinerEddie Lin wages a culinary war against the jellyfish. He's seen the enemy and he says it's time to eat them! If you're looking for a place to try jellyfish, Lin recommends the Thai restaurants, Sanamluang Café in North Hollywood and V.I.P. Harbor Seafood in West LA.